Bears Beyond The Gate

In this week's episode we re-live a fantastic day down the Gate when the Bears secured their first play off berth in four years with a resounding 52-26 victory over Quins. The Bears Way was on display in its full roller-coaster splendour although to be fair they weathered a small storm in the second half and then powered to the finish line, much to the frenzied delight of the majority of the 20,000 fans in the stadium (minus the Quins supporters who, to be fair, seemed very gracious in defeat).The prize? Another visit to one of our happier hunting grounds just down the road.Banana skin? Target on their back? All the pressure on them? The cliches are rolling off our tongues but the bottom line is we have nothing to lose, have a pack that might just cause them a few things to think about and if we get front foot ball then we know we have the weapons to win the battle and propel us further east to the promised land of a first Premiership final.Finally, we run through a bit of AOB which includes questions around the number of season ticket renewals, a debate on whether the the hoops on the home shorts are the in the correct order for middle aged men who drop food down their front, and then a quick sprint to the finish line with a run through of the end of season award winners from the ceremony that took place after the game on Saturday.Running order:0.00 - 6.20: Introduction6.20 - 12.10: Post match soundbites12.10 - 38.54 : Review of the game38.54 - 45.13: Listener contributions45.13 - 53.54: Bath preview53.54 - end: AOBLet us know what you think!

Join Pete and Lee as they review the Friday night loss at Sale and how Saints' win against Sarries has provided us with a play off lifeline.At least things are simple now. Win against Quins and we are in the play offs.Lose and we probably won't be...Up the Bears!Let us know what you think!

It's been a long time coming and it has divided opinion, but Saturday saw 51,000 spectators descend on Cardiff for the Big Day out at the World's premier rugby stadium. We review both the pre-match atmosphere, the game itself and what we can take forward to the tough away game at Sale. It is customary to mention Enya at this juncture but we need to put lazy puns aside and focus on the task ahead. Bears got the 5 points that they needed to keep themselves on play-off life support but how good was the victory really given it was a Bath second string and they needed two late tries to make the score board look respectable?We also manage to slot in a couple of soundbites that actually got recorded in the mayhem and indulge ourselves in more Hambley-esque acrostic-ery with a tidy limerick for desert.All this and more with Pete, Miles and Lee at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom...Let us know what you think!

You're listening to Bears Beyond The Gate episode 196. Yes 196.We're three fans who love the club, the game and all things Bears.Each episode we talk about the game that's gone, the game that's coming up and anything else that takes our fancy as long as it is vaguely Bears related. We try to be as balanced as possible but ultimately we are trying to reflect the views and opinions of paying punters from all ages, backgrounds and demographics. We don't take ourselves too seriously but we do try to say it as we see it!This week we mull over the third defeat in a row at Franklins Gardens and wonder whether ‘the best form of defence is attack' strategy has now run its course and given that we have a play-off place hanging in the balance with only three games left, is there any way of tweaking the game plan to keep us in the top four?The next time that we see the Bears will be The Big Day Out in Cardiff and sadly we imagine that Bath players and fans will be licking their lips in anticipation. It has to be a yet another must-win for us, but how exactly are we going to do that?Finally, a new song, ‘Come on you Bristol Bears', has been published by lifelong fan and charity fundraiser, Paul Hobbs. All download proceeds are being donated to the Foundation and you can find out more by clicking here.Let us know what you think!

Only a couple of hours after the end of the disappointing defeat against Tigers we knock out a pod.It's raw and a bit unstructured and involves a long discussion about how many more fortress metaphors we can realistically use before just giving up and accepting that we're never going to win lots of home games in a row.Supporting Bristol continues to be like riding a roller-coaster but today it felt like we were more at Peppa Pig World than Alton Towers.Are play off hopes in the balance or can we bounce back? To be honest, we just don't know but talk about it anyway.Plus shout outs to the Bristol Bears Lotto, Martin who we met in the concourse, and a new Simba Cam candidate...All this and more with Pete, Miles and guest pundit, Stoner!Let us know what you think!

Miles and Pete break down the humbling defeat at Gloucester by piecing together what they can remember from an excellent away day in the Shed. Bristol's defence left a little bit to be desired but fair play to Gloucester as they were on fire and it was an honour to witness once of best no-look offloads in the history of rugby union.Despite the heavy defeat, the Bears still remain in second place after this mini block of games but the pack are closing fast. Does the fact that we have shipped 15 tries in two games mean that our play off place may be in jeopardy or will Pat and the boys sort the defence out in time for the visit of Tigers on Easter Sunday?We muse on this as well as hearing from fans from both teams both before and after the game.Sit back, listen and enjoy our away day travelogue!Let us know what you think!

We run through the key moments of the 52-38 victory at a pulsating Ashton Gate as the Bears saw off the Chiefs with a disciplined second half display after losing Santi Grondona to a red after 30 minutes.The first half however...We also briefly look forward to the away fixture at Kingsholm with a game of 'who is most likely to...?' and finish with a short discussion about the merits or otherwise of the proposed plan to introduce dedicated away fan sections. Finally, Miles doffs his tweed cap to the career of Amber Reed who announced her retirement this week.All this and more as Pete, Miles and Lee share a cheeky pint and a bit of rugby banter at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom.Let us know what you think!

We look forward to the return of the Premiership after the long Six Nations hiatus with a little help from Sports Reporter Elgan Alderman from The Times who was the ONLY journalist to tip Bristol for glory at the start of the season. We ask him why he went against the tide of peer opinion and whether he thinks we've still go it in us to go all the way.We also review the Bears Woman' semi final loss at Queensholm and ponder over the fact that every single stat apart the final score went in our favor and ask whether we let another chance of glory slip through our fingers.Finally we chat about the season ticket renewal announcement and briefly discuss whether the 'new' old news linking Pat to some sort of job with the Wales National team is hot air or something more solid...Running order:0:00 - 3:00: Intro and update on the state of Lewis' relationship.3:00 - 14:20: Review of the Womens' valiant defeat at Queensholm with stats!14:20 - 19:40 - Setting the scene for the Premiership restart with a car metaphor.19:40 - 24:25: Elgan Alderman from The Times.24:25 - 36: 50 - A meandering Chiefs preview including injury return speculation.36: 50 - end: Season ticket renewal package and Pat to Wales chat.Let us know what you think!

This week we focus on the Bears Women's upcoming semi-final play off with Gloucester-Hartpury on Sunday 2nd March at 3pm.Not only do we invite a proper dual season ticket holder onto the pod as a special guest but we also have an exclusive and in-depth interview with Dave Ward and Tom Luke. They give us a behind-the scenes deep dive into the season so far as well as their thoughts on how they will plan and prep for the play-off. It's a fairly lengthy and interesting chat after which we discuss a few of the issues that it throws up before previewing the game itself and offering our score predictions.We finish off by discussing Dave's excellent punditry performance on TNT Sports on Friday night having been warmed up nicely by our interview the day before and then finally sign off for the night.It is a bit of a long one again but to help you navigate your way through it here is the running order:Introduction:Start - 9:10: Pre-amble and a brief chat about the England A game at Ashton GateDave and Tom interview:9:10 - 12:04: Motivations for this season after last year's final defeat12:04 - 13:41: How the Women fit into the HPC set-up alongside the Men13:41 - 15:26: How Dave and Tom work together15:26 - 17: 10: Coaching on match days 17:10 - 18:55: Shaftesbury Park vs Ashton Gate as home venues18: 55 - 20: 28: How they plan and prep for games20:28 - 23:00: Managing squad rotation and selection issues23:00 - 26:50: New player recruitment pathways26:50 - 29:39: Tracking and signing established players29:39 - 34:23: How Tom signed Ilona Maher34:23 - 37: 36: Dave's thoughts after the Loughborough Lightening defeat37: 36 - 39:49: How they will prep for the semi final39:49 - 42:14: Messages to the traveling fans42: 14 - 45:41: Tom's failed attempt to sign Fury the Gladiator and a vote of thanksPost interview:45:41 - 55:15: Our thoughts on the chat55:15 - 65: 53: Semi-final preview65: 53 - 70:15: Score predictions70:15 - the end: Dave's punditry trousersLet us know what you think!

The boys are back at the Bristol Beer Factory for yor favourite Bristol rugby lock-in.Unashamedly long but to help you out here is the running order:0 - 6m45s: Intros, beer review, riders and the BBF Quiz night details6m45s - 22m0s: Bears Women's win at Quins and qualify for play-offs22m0s - 29m33s: PWR Commentator cliches29m33s - 30m40s: Instagram followers roll of honour30m40s - 36m30s: Bears Men beat Bath again but don't qualify for play-offs36m30 - 44m30s: Post-match Pat and even more Bears chat44m30s - 55m56s: Wider chat on Prem Cup and Queensland Reds team selections55m56s - 66m10s: Bears Fan Forum feedback66m10s - 71m55s: England A, George Kloska and Max Malins 71m55s - the end: Sponsoship woes and an EPIC final rant from MilesLet us know what you think!

As we head towards the Six Nations break we are sitting pretty in second place in the Prem table on 40 points. It might have been a bit of a topsy turvey win against Falcons that we appeared to try and win at least three times, but ultimately we scored 8 tries and pulled away in the final 'quarter'.We break down the game in our somewhat cheery and rambly way as well as going off on a few tangents with thoughts on whether we should sign Santi Carreras and whether it was appropriate for the England players to be seen on socials having a jolly on a golf course in Girona when their mates are getting smashed up in England.We also have a chat about the Womens' heartbreaking defeat at Trailfinders and wonder whether the 'Bears way' is still a work in progress for them. However, Sale's defeat of Exeter has left the door open for Bristol to sneak into the play-offs as long as they score a maximum 15 points from their last three games. They are back at Shaftesbury Park on Saturday so get youself down there and cheer them on...All this and more with Pete, Lee and Miles having a cheeky beer and a bit of rugby banter down at the legendary Bristol Beer Factory TaproomLet us know what you think!

You're listening to Bears Beyond The Gate, a Bristol Bears podcast made by fans for fans. We three regulars at Ashton Gate who love the club, the game and all things Bears.This week we look back on two Saturday fixtures with the Women going first with a bonus point victory 43-29 win against Leicester Tigers women at Ashton Gate and the Men managing to snatch defeat from the Jaws of a Draw at the Stade Marcel Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand.It was another welcome 5 points for the Women in their quest for a play off semi final but given that they conceded 29 points to a team that were beaten 100 nil last weekend by Saracens, does their defence review definitely fall into the ‘learnings and work-ons' category. Furthermore, it's our longest and most in-depth review of a Bears' Women game ever!As for the Men, it was the second year in a row that they got dumped out of two European cup competitions in one fell swoop albeit in much more courageous circumstances than that dark night in Galway last season. There is no doubt that we were handed an insanely tough group but should we be expecting more and did we get our game management right on the night? The debate rages.Finally, we look forward to the visit of Newcastle Falcons next Sunday with all our fingers and toes crossed that we didn't pick up any more injuries in France. Is five points a non negotiable or will it be a trickier fixture than our respective league positions might suggest.Check out Dream XV Rugby by clicking hereLet us know what you think!

The boys come together at the Bristol Beer Factory after a couple of cheeky pints to review the narrow victory at the Gate aganst Benetton. It was an inconsistent win but with plenty to be postive about despite almost losing at the end. Before that though, Miles issues a public apology to the whole Italian nation and we run through a large list of people who we saw at the game.We then offer our analysis based on what we could actually remember as well as broadening the discussion to all manner of rugby-related subjects, including the Bears Womens' clinical victory at Sandy Park which saw Ilona Maher score a debut try right out of the Jonah Lomu playbook.Finally we have a suprise guest a superfan Simon Stone joins us as he happened to wander past the BBF on his way home.Vote for us in the Sorts Podcast Awards!https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-rugby-podcast/All this and more!Let us know what you think!

So, after the Christmas comedown, a visit to Saracens was always going to be a tough assignment given their team and our track record in North London. In the end a cheeky point was probably about right although we did look a few gift horses in the mouth and on another day we might have left with a few more.The Bears Women were also in action today with nearly 10K fans at Ashton Gate keen to catch a glimpse of Ilona Maher and equally as importantly, a league victory. They got the first but sadly not the second as Gloucester/Hartbury spoiled the party with a dominant second half performance. Miles was there and tells us about it.Finally we preview next Sunday's Champion Cup game against Benetton with the help of a special guest and Bristol legend Andy Uren who makes his first return to his hometown since moving to Treviso. He tells us about how his move came about, reminisces about his days with the Bears, and then looks forward to his return to Ashton Gate.Let us know what you think!

In this week's episode Miles is off sick so we bring in a heavyweight replacement to provide laser sharp analysis of where it all went wrong. Welcome Mr Dave Attwood for his second appearance on the pod!Dave breaks down Friday's disappointing result from a recent player's perspective and we jump on his bandwagon to give our view from the stands.Ultimately we decide that it's a blip that needs to be flushed down the toilet and never be mentioned again.That said, we continue with our listener poetry which is slightly darker than in previous weeks and then look forward to the next tough assigment away at the Stone X where we will meet a wounded Saracens side who were also on the sharp end of a humping. We assume this will make them very, very angry but then our boys will want to make up for the festive flop, so who knows? At least it's an away game!If you like what you hear then please leave a rating or a review on your chosen podcast platform or get in touch at bearsbeyondthegate@gmail.com or via the 'let us know what you think' link below.Up the New Year Bears!Let us know what you think!

We are back after a two week break and dive straight into a quick review of the tough European campaign. A great effort from the lads away at La Rochelle but ultimately we are sitting at the bottom of the table. We briefly discuss what this might mean for the ‘Andy Uren derby' when Benetton come to town in January  and then swiftly move on to more pressing matters…You know…The rugby massacre at Welford Road.We do our best to give justice to the record-breaking events that unfolded on Saturday with a smorgasbord of hyperbole and cliches but also a  strange lack of ‘phenomenals' from Miles.Unfortunately we left the cliche bell at home but feel free to make your own ‘dings' as you work thought the episode!We also read out some choice rugby poetry from our hard core listeners and then finish off with a review of the how the Bears Women have fared in the last couple of weeks now that the Ilona Maher carnival has parked up for Christmas.The positive vibes running through all aspects of Bristol Bears are just incredible at the moment and we all need to keep surfing that wave.Happy Christmas and hopefully see a lot of your at Gate on Friday!Much love,Pete, Miles and Lee.Let us know what you think!

In a very short late Sunday night post-match pod Pete and Miles reflect on the defeat to Leinster at a very windy Ashton Gate.Lets be honest - they were lucky to be 7-7 at the break having lost two men to the bin and struggling to find a way through the Bristol's inspired defence that also had to contend with the loss on AJ MacGinty after 5 mins, and a reshuffle that put BJVR at fly half.However, they were lucky enough to have both a World Cup winner and runner up on the bench alongside the probable Lions captain so inevitably they ended up winning.That said, there were many positives to take from the game, not least yet another inspirational performance from Fitz '80 minute' Harding, but ultimately the second half reminded us that if we are serious about going deep in Europe now or in the future, let alone the Premiership, then we need a bigger squad. End of story.And given the number of injuries we suffered, our trip to La Rochelle next week looks increasing like it might be a re-run of the Charge of the Light Brigade. But hey, stranger things have happened and we will be eagerly looking forward to Joe Owen schooling Will Skelton and Fitz Harding humbling Gregory Alldritt!Up the Bears!....Let us know what you think!

To mark the European heavyweights from Dublin's visit to Ashton gate on Sunday, former Bristol Bear and Leinster player Ian Madigan joins us for an episode packed with insights and nostalgia. He shares treasured memories from his time at Bristol, revealing what it was like to play under Pat Lam's leadership and how it shaped his approach to rugby. We also talk about Ian's transition to life off the field, where he's now navigating the worlds of television and marketing, and the exciting news of expecting his first child. Plus, Ian spills the beans on Leinster's strategies ahead of their Champions Cup face-off with the Bears, giving fans something to chew on before the big game.And he thinks Jordie Barrett will play.Ever wondered what goes into making a rugby commentator tick? We also discuss the art of punditry with Ian as he outlines the delicate balance between live analysis and setting expectations pre-match. Ian reflects on his journey from Bordeaux to Bristol, motivated by Pat Lam's compelling team vision, and shares insights into the changing dynamics between top leagues and the English championship. His anecdotes about building a team from the ground up offer a rare glimpse into the challenges and rewards of creating a winning dynamic, even if that meant playing in driving snow at Rotherham in front of one man and his husky.So grab a pint of the dark stuff (Guinness or even BBF nitro stout) and join us for a stroll down memory lane as Mads takes us through unforgettable moments with the Bristol Bears, highlighting the camaraderie and mentorship that defines the sport, the competitive edge between the Pro 14 and the English Premiership, and the pressures faced by coaches in these high-stakes environments. As we wrap up with anticipation for the upcoming Leinster match, it's clear that the ties within the rugby community run deep, and the bonds formed on and off the pitch are what truly make the journey worthwhile. Cheers to the weekend and the enduring spirit of rugby!...Up the European bears!Let us know what you think!

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Ever wondered how professional rugby players navigate the transition from one team to another while maintaining their game and sanity? Join us as we chat with Callum Sheedy and Dan Thomas, ex Bears who recently set up shop in Cardiff. They share what it's like to move from familiar territory, the emotional rollercoaster of starting anew, and how commuting together helps them stay connected to their roots. You'll hear a personal story or two about their first days at ther new club, the nerves, the laughs, and the camaraderie that makes rugby life worth it.The 2021 season was a rollercoaster for the Bears, and Callum and Dan give an insight into what happened behind the scenes and candidly discuss the aftermath of the crushing semi-final loss and how it affected the team's confidence and strategic direction. These insights reveal the intricacies of professional sports, where game plans are as much about mental resilience as they are about physical prowess.But it's not all on-field drama. Off the pitch, Callum and Dan share their unwinding rituals, from arm wrestling to unforgettable nights out. We get into the nitty-gritty of their lives beyond rugby, including amusing tales of teammates and the quirks of international selection rules. Whilst they still harbor dreams of playing for Wales, both players remind us that while rugby is a game, it's also a career filled with personal aspirations and challenges. Whether you're a Bears fan or just curious about the lives of top level athletes, this episode promises a rich tapestry of stories, insights, and laughs.Let us know what you think!

What happens when you mix a makeshift dining room studio with lively rugby banter? You get a fun-filled episode of Bears Beyond the Gate! Join us as our usual podcast space at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom is commandeered by the BBC, forcing us into the homely pod studio.Miles shares his up-close experience from the England versus Australia clash at Twickenham but despite England's loss, the electrifying atmosphere, seamless pint access, and scrumptious street food made it a day to remember.We also review the previous night's exhibition match vs Australia A including a light-hearted mention of the Dame Edna look-a-like cam which stole the show and ponder which international touring team could actually fill the stadium next year.Celebrating Bristol Bears' rising stars is a must, so we (very) briefly review the two Prem Cup game as well as the recent exploits of the Bears Women team, plus, we tease our listeners with plans for future episodes and our excitement for upcoming internationals. So, grab a drink, sit back, and immerse yourself in the Bears Beyond the Gate experience!Let us know what you think!

In this week's episode we discuss the extent to which Ashton Gate is on its first steps to becoming a fortress after the first home win of the season against Saints despite our general lack of historical knowledge and the fact that the boys had to dig deep from 15-0 down.We also analyse TNT's official post match interview with Joe Batley as well as our own unofficial one with pod favorite AJ ‘Adge' MacGinty.As well as the regular ‘poet's corner' we introduce a new angle with ‘relatives corner' - where current players tell us which of their relatives listen to the pod.Finally, we run through a number of shout-outs based in various meetings with listeners and fellow Bears' fans at location ‘in and around' Ashton Gate.Join Pete, Lee and Miles for a cheeky beer and a bit of rugby banter.Running order:0:00Intro3:08Bats and Adge's post match interviews12:44Our review of the game43:52Poets' corner48:46Relatives' corner51:33Shout outs, a gentle GOAT and guerrilla marketingLet us know what you think!

In this week's episode we re-live the agonising defeat against Sarries, who are now well established as our Ashton Gate bogey team.We were much the better side but just couldn't put the game to bed when in front and on top. However it was a great spectacle for the 18K fans who turned up for the family day double header and long may the fast flowing and exciting rugby continue.We talk about both games and have soundbites from James Dun, fans from both teams and also, for the first time ever, post match comments from some of the Bears Women and Head Coach Dave Ward. Be warned the sound quality is a bit fuzzy as they were all dressed in lederhosen and on a post match social in the Bristol Beer factory Taproom.We preview the Saints game with help from our friend Tom Vickers from the Northampton Echo and finally we run through some shout outs and a few final AOBS.Join us for a cheeky beer and some rugby banterRunning order:0:00Intro4:28James Dun5:30Our thoughts29:48Sarries and Bears fans and a limerick34:27Womens' game report with help from players and Dave Ward43:05Saints preview with Tom Vickers1:06:27AOBs - shout outs, Apero Bar, more Walking Rugby and a mystery job for us at the Gate on FridayLet us know what you think!

This week the boys break down yet another away win for the Bears down at Sandy Park. At 32-12 down with all stats against us and only 14 minutes left on the clock, we somehow snatch victory from the jaws of defeat leaving us in dreamland and top of the table after four games.We try to make sense of the mayhem whilst opening cans of beer and marveling at how sometimes fact is stranger than fiction.After that we look forward to Family day next Saturday and the double header vs Sarries with help from our good friend Jez from the Saracens Supporters Club Fezcast pod. Finally we run through some AOBs that include travel updates, an 'anti-goat', a reminder of cocktail related discount opportunities and a shout out for the Silver Ravens, who are the Nailsea and Backwell rugby club's walking rugby team.Join us for a cheeky beer and a bit of rugby banter.Let us know what you think!

We can bearly contain ourselves this week as the Boys went to the Rec on Saturday as underdogs but left it with a wholehearted Blackbird ringing in their ears. It was a game of passion, purpose and no little skill on both sides but for the 145th time in the history of this fixture the Bears were triumphant.We break down the events at the Rec and then look forward to the next game at Chiefs with the help of SW Rugby writer John Evely. We've had to cut down on the acrostics this week as we have enough for an anthology, but we do read out three (plus one) and acknowledge everyone who has contributed to this burgeoning art formIt was also the start of the PWR this weekend with the Bears Women winning at Loughborough Lightnings as they aim to go one better than runners-up last year. We doff our cap to double hat-trick merchants!Finally, we refer ourselves to the IGCC - the  Independent Goats Complaints Commission - and make a public apology to a humiliated listener....Join Pete, Lee and Miles for a cheeky beer and a bit of rugby banterLet us know what you think!

In this week's show Pete and Miles review the Friday night harem scarum defeat to Gloucester with help from many listener contributions and the Deputy Manager of the Bristol Bear Factory, Lewis.It was one of those games where every single statistic was in our favour apart from the one that matters, that is, the final score and perhaps on another day we would have strolled to victory. But we didn't.That said, the Cherry and Whites played with purpose and passion and undoubtedly forced us into frustrating errors that gifted them a lot of points. We give our views as well as comment on the general atmosphere of this season's first home game back at the Gate. Fortress or Forgettable?The good news is that we are currently sitting third in the table but have to visit them down the road next Saturday. Are there grounds for optimism? You bet there are.We also reveal further commercial link ups with the Apero Bar, comment on Gengey's contract extension and finish with the return of a fan favorite - what gets my goat?There are at least four!All this and more.Get in touch via the socials or email us at bearsbeyondthegate@gmail.comLet us know what you think!

This week we review the start of the Premiership with the gritty but points-profitable win away at Newcastle. Was it a solid start with a few leanings or rather as good as you might expect given the time of year, the weather and the fact that they are coached by Steve Diamond?We read out listener thoughts, both poetic and prosaic, give our views on the game and forensically analyse Bennard Janse Van Rensburg's post match interview in full.Next stop is Ashton Gate for the first renewal of the Rifles Cup and we hear from Ed Price from the Cherry Jam pod before discussing our predictions for the game. We also plug a brand new alcoholic drink offering that you'll see on Friday but you'll have to listen right up to the end of the pod to find out which ex-player will be setting out his stall for the faithful.All this and more on Bristol's premier (and only) fan pod.Up the Bears!Let us know what you think!

The boys get Season 6 (yes 6!) off to a solid start from the world famous Bristol Beer Factory and 'talk about' the following things:The Big Day out - good, bad or a bit of both?The new home and away kit - obviously good but just how good?The pre-season game vs Dragons - Miles and Pete report back along from a wet night at Clifton RFC with a bonus post-match sound bite from Pat and a during-match one from Harry Randall.The season ahead - the squad is discussed.Miles' 'merch' - the Duke comes up with a scheme to make even more money involving stackable pint potsIt's great to be back....Let us know what you think!

The lads finally manage to organise a time to meet up and record their final thoughts on what turned out to be yet another roller coaster season for the Bears.They run through the season and their memories of each game, reveal the results of the listener vote and outline one final Lee-related Goat. Has he managed to secure a seat for next season or have sinister forces been at play working against his desire to come in from the cold like a modern day George Smiley?Listen right to the end to find out!

In this week's pod we re-live our epic journey to SW London on the Supporters Coach where we experienced, quite simply, one of the best rugby away days ever.We loved the Stoop...We loved the running rugby...We loved the ale and the Chicken Caesar burger (albeit a bit pricey)And one of us loved the cheeky little techno DJ...What a day, what a win and what a shame Sarries let us down. Oh well, at least Pete can play cricket on a Saturday, Miles can sort his allotment out and Lee, well... not sure what he does in the summer.Up the Bears!

In this week's episode, Pete, Miles and Lee review the defeat against Saracens at Ashton Gate. Despite a good start the Bears ultimately lost control of the game in the face of an incredibly experienced, focused and effective opposition who delivered a classic 'been there, seen that and worn the T-shirt' sort of performance led by the mercurial Owen Farrell. Fair play to the them. They did a job, played some decent rugby and got the result they needed. No real complaints from us.We then look forward to our BBTG away day trip on the coach to Quins. With both teams realistically needing a bonus-point win to have a chance of the fourth play-off berth you can be sure that the ball will be flying about all over the Stoop. Is this our chance to deliver a 'Quins-tanbul' performance? As our friend Binnsy once said, 'win or lose, hit the booze' and we'll be sure to do that as best we can.Finally, we run through the list of leavers and wish the four centurions  in Callum Sheedy, Dan Thomas, Ed Holmes and Piers O'Connor well. Follow us on the socials:Twitter @bearsbeyondgate, Facebook at Bears Beyond The GateInstagram at Bears Beyond The GateOr email us at bearsbeyondthegate @gmail.com

This week we pick over the carcass that was the massacre in BS3 and we're not talking about the hammering of Falcons at Ashton Gate last weekend. No, we're talking about the first ever live pod at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom. We look back on an evening of structured chaos, discuss the learnings and then move quickly on to more pressing matters such as the fantastic victory yesterday away at Welford Road that keeps play off hopes firmly in our own hands.19- zip down on 69 minutes and we're looking down the barrel but shots fired from the bench, and in particular from Max Lahiff and the returning Harry Thacker, and a yellow card to Mike Brown and we haul it back from the brink with a last gasp try and conversion to make it 21-19. It's fair to say the home crowd didn't take to that too well but boo hoo, that's life baby!We talk about the game with help from some selected short sharp summaries and then look forward to the final two games in the run-ins. Do we dare to believe? Spoiler alert. We do!Bristol Bears Women were also in action on Sunday in the Allianz Cup final at Shaftesbury Party and despite leading at half time, were eventually defeated by a strong Saracens side. We have a quick chat about that and their hopes for the run- in and then finally we run though a bit more ‘Bris-ness' from the week, including some contract news, the Supporters Q&A at the HPC and introduce a new feature - ‘news from the media' as we notched a flurry of Bears-related articles in the press this week. It's great that everyone loves the Bears again after years of media hibernation and just shows where running, offloading and try-scoring can get you….Join Pete, Lee and Miles as they have a cheeky beer and a bit of rugby banter…

It's a carnival atmosphere down at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom this week as having constantly 'talked about' doing a live pod the lads actually execute one straight after the 13-try massacre of Newcastle Falcons at Ashton Gate.It's raw and it's raucous but the lads try their best to analyse the game despite 10% off the beers and 50% of the champagne.They also look towards Tigers and beyond and dare to believe. Back in the top four from no-where. Can we? You bet we can... We also discuss a re-signing, a departure and a rumour as well as responding to listener questions. And then before you know it's over.Thanks to all of you who tuned up to support us and also to our tech genius Paul Wyatt who kept the whole thing going. Maybe we'll do one again sometime.

In this week's episode we formally announce our first ever live pod, in the sense that we are inviting an audience to the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom post Falcons at 6.30pm next Sunday.If you are interested in finding out more, and even contemplating joining us, then complete the Eventbrite registration below (it's free but it helps us get an idea of numbers) as well as the Google form where you can submit a question in advance and provide us with answers to a few short questions about the season.Click HERE to register your interest..Click HERE for the Google form to submit a questions and answer a couple of questions about the season...We also discuss the season card renewal announcement which rewarded fans with a minimal increase but also ruffled a few feathers on account of the plan to shift people out of three sections of the South Stand to  make way for yet another new Family Area. We try to take a balanced view as best we can.We also discuss a contract extension and a new signing as well as speculate on players past and present in a somewhat whimsical manner.Finally Miles and Pete briefly review the Bears Women victory over Glos-Hartbury in the Allianz Cup semi final and before we finally remember to preview the Falcons game, but very quickly as we haven't got an awful lot to say.Up the Bears!

You're listening to Bears Beyond the Gate, a Bristol Bears podcast made by fans for fans. We're two and a half season cardholders at Ashton Gate who love the club, the game and all things Bears.Well, Miles is happy as Pat listens to his selection advice from the ski slopes of France and moves Max to full back, Noah Howard to the wing and gives Gengey the starting berth at loosehead.And it works, as Bristol retain the Rifles Cup by winning at Kingsholm for only the third time since 2006.It's an enjoyable game of rugby for both sets of fans and the 33-24 victory means that Bristol move up to a lofty 5th position thanks to Sale hammering Exeter yesterday. That's 12 tries and 85 point for the Bears since the restart and with Newcastle up next in three weeks are we now officially the wild card team that might sneak into the play offs? We reinstate listeners' short, sharp summaries, hear from a new roving reporter and take a bow to man of the match Benard Janse Van Rensburg by listening to his glorious post match interview in full before adding our thoughts on the game.Join Pete, Miles and Lee for a cheeky coffee and a bit of early morning banter…

In this week's episode Pete and Miles dial in from their respective ski resorts  whilst Lee shakes his head at the whole middle classy-ness of it all.That said, it was worth the effort as the boys chew over the fantastic victory against Saints on Friday and give their thoughts on what was very close to being the elusive 80- performance. They discuss various key moments in the game, reflect on the myriad quality performances and celebrate the atmosphere down at the Gate.When it comes to Northampton Saints it really does seem that the ‘can we play you every week' chant is entirely appropriate as this was yet  another shellacking for them in BS3.Finally they also discuss any changes required for the visit to Kingsholm on Saturday and wonder whether we should be daring to believe that a top four finish is on the cards.

In this weeks's episode we preview the return of the Prem with help from the Telegraph's Charlie Morgan. It's been a long break but there's all to play for and as we're only three points off 6th and six points off 4th can we dare to dream?We also comment on Pat's interview on Bears TV this week and then try and pick the team for Friday. With a lot of players seemingly available it's actually quite a pleasurable task.Finally we also revel a piece of news that will send shockwaves around BS3. Yes, Lee is going to come to the game. On mates rates of course.Up the Bears!

In the second of our occasional 'doc-pods' we head towards the end of this long fallow period by hearing from Paul Morgan, who is  the Communications Lead of PWR and previously Communications Director at Premier Rugby and before that editor of Rugby World. He talks about the rebranding of the PRW this season, his thoughts about Bears Women team and offer some more general thoughts on where domestic rugby union is going given the challenges that is has faced in recent times. Sit back, relax and enjoy and a preview of the Premiership re-start, with a special guest,  should be with you later in the week!

In this week's slightly delayed pod (technical difficulties) we hear from Bristol legend and current Galway resident Joe Joyce . He gives us some insight into what it's like getting  a bit of niggle going with some of your best mates in the European Cup, speaks candidly about why he left his home town for pastures new and 'talks about' his future aspirations as well as revealing a surprising candidate for 'hardest man' in the Bears camp.We also review the excellent Bears' Women victory against Saracens on Sunday with help from one of our occasional roving reporters, Marcus Watts, and then give our thoughts on the World Book Day contract extension news and speculate on what this may mean for next season.Finally, we revisit an old Goat and its not bobble hats (or dry robes) although it does involve frustrations surrounding merchandise.Thanks for listening as always and if you have any comments please get in touch via @bearsbeyondgate on Twitter, bearsbeyondthegate on Instagram or email to bearsbeyondthegate@gmail.comUp the Bears (even though we haven't seen them play for a while)!

It's only Pete and Lee this week down at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom supping a couple of cheeky beers, as Miles calls in sick at the last minute.However, they still manage to fill the time, with help from listener posts, discussing the Bears Women victory against Loughborough Lightening in particular and how their season is hotting up more generally, as well as intertwining their thoughts with other subjects as wide ranging as Super League netball and the importance of not doing well in GCSE mock exams.Realising that time is moving on, they also discuss the positive feedback received as a result of last week's Dave Attwood interview and agree that both 'Bristanbul' and more controversially, dry robes, are now discussion topics that have finally been put to bed although they do worry about the gentrification of East Street, Bedminster. They also 'talk about' news of a signing and a contract extension coming out of the club this week.Finally they dip their toe into the more general rugby podcasting arena with a low key discussion of England vs Scotland loosely based around Gengey's travails before calling it a day as the timer approached the hour mark.Enjoy!

In this week's BUMPER episode we hear from Dave Attwood about:His life since retirement...His time at the Bears and what it was like working under Pat...THAT semi final defeat and why it all went wrong...What he thinks about Bristol's season so far AND how we are not 'a million miles away from clicking' and finally...His answers to some incredibly searching short sharp questions, including one that is on every fan's lips i.e what might be considered appropriate attire at rugby matches...We then chat about some of the really interesting points that he raises and then discuss our thoughts on the season so far with help from listener questions, finally signing off to most people's relief with some shout outs and reminders of upcoming events.On that note here are the details of the Open Day at South Bristol Girls Rugby that is mentioned at the end of the episode:6.30pm on Friday 23rd FebruaryAt Bristol Barbarians  RFC in WhitchurchFood, Drink and Rugby available!South Bristol Girls run U12, U14 and U16 teams (Yrs 7-11) with training evert Thursday between 6 and 8pm. Get in touch via southbristolgirlsrugby@gmail.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram

In the first ever Bears Beyond The Gate 'docu-pod' we hear from Kiera, Kaye and Sophie about the work of the Bears Together Supporters Advisory Committee (SAC)  an initiative  that was announced at the start of the season as a way of the club being able to gather more direct feedback from fans about off-field matters. They talk about who they, and other members of SAC are, how the first meeting went and their aims of for the future. They are there to represent US so if you have any comments or suggestions for them please complete the Google Form below by clicking the link. Enjoy!Bears Together Feedback formAnd if you want to see what they all look like then click below!Bears Together webpage on the Offie

As the Premiership takes a mid season break for the Six Nations, we review the monumental banger at Ashton Gate as Bristol maintain their seven-game home town winning streak against Bath. Basically it was just a mental game of rugby. Multiple line breaks, gorgeous offloads and 14 tries AND virtually no box kicks or scrums. It was rugby played the way it should be!As well as hearing from both sets of fans before and after the game thanks to our brand new audio recording device and Miles wearing a huge pair of headphones, we also read out a record-breaking 21 short, sharp summaries, the quality of which are university level, with a selection of game related limericks, acoustic poems and even haikus.We also discuss a few other things such as our plan to get people in the Atyeo for every game but relatively quickly because we want to keep the pod under an hour ( we failed..).Finally, many thanks to all listeners who voted for us in this year's Sports Podcast Awards. We have no idea whether we'll get on the podium but if we do it'll be a victory for hardworking, dedicated and often long suffering clubs fans all round the country.Cheers!

In this week's episode we welcome work experience fella Reg to deputise for Lee who is still in witness protection after his new year Bristol Post article - or is he just taking the Christmas Tree down?We discuss the poor result and performance against Connacht which essentially saw us dumped out of both European Cups in one go and debate what this means in terms of goals and targets for the rest of the season and beyond. Is change needed and if so, what should it look like?That said there is of course a huge game on Saturday, as Ashton Gate prepares for an inundation of dry robes with the visit of Bath Rugby and their Tesla driving Cockapoo owners. Is this the most must-win game ever in the history of must-winability.? We talk to Bath fan Tom Dabinett and actually feel quite positive as he reminds us that they haven't won there for ages.We also review the successful Bears Woman's victory over Quins at Shaftesbuty Park with help from listener Kate McCoy and finally make one last shameful appeal for support in the Sports Podcast Awards with voting due to close this Sunday 28th January. If you haven't done already click the link below to give Bristol Bears the only remaining chance of silverware this season.Multiple email accounts could and should be used!VOTE HERE!

Vote for us at the Sports Podcast Awards 2024 and help us bring home some silverware for the Bears! Click on the link below...https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-rugby-podcast/And in other news, the Bears lose to a decent Bulls outfit who out-muscle them in the scrum and generally look a bit better all round. Hear our thoughts and then those of Alan and William from Connacht's 'The Craggy Rugby Podcast' as they help us preview the final pool game from gorgeous Galway. There audio clip also includes Joe Joyce's post match interview after their loss to Lyon. How we miss those dulcet tones!All this and more with Pete, Lee and Miles and a few pints of real ale recorded exclusively at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom.

In this week's show we prepare, bake and scoff large amounts of humble pie after the surprise Bears' victory away at Sale Sharks. How can we be so bad and so good all in one week? We get the views of regular social media followers and also hear from yet another roving reporter who saw the game live, as well as throwing in our thoughts and opinions for good measure.The last time a South African side game to the Gate a whole nation was disappointed but this time we welcome the Bulls in the next round of the Champions Cup. We are joined by fan A-P Cronje who not only gives us the lowdown about one of South Africa's premier club sides but also throws in a bit geography and history to boot. You can't say you don't learn stuff on this pod.Finally, we have a quick chat about the work the Bears Women need to do to as they enter the second half of their season and finish off by mentioning that we have been nominated in the best rugby pod category for the 2024 Sports Podcast Awards. Seeing as we are up against national behemoths like The Rugby Pod and Maul or Nothing we could really do with your votes as well as those of extended families, distant relatives and anyone else you happen to know. If you haven't done so already please click on the link below and help us push for amateur pod glory!Vote here!Thanks and Up the Bears!

Crocodile Dundee returns to chew the Christmas cud with a somewhat unstructured ramble thought the festive period culminating in a long discussion about the impacts of last Friday's hugely disappointing defeat against Exeter 2.0 in front of sell-out crowd. Despite leading 14-12 at the break the Bears were bageled in the second half at the hands of a young, hungry and well drilled outfit leaving many fans wondering were we go from here. You'll have to put in a big oral shift to find out what we think!In other news we have been shortlisted in the 'Best Rugby Podcast' category in the 2024 Sports Podcast Awards. There will be more information in the next pod but if you can't wait until then, click the link below to find out more and cast your vote:Vote for your favourite rugby fan podcast here and tell all your friends too

In this week's episode we relish the record breaking 51-26 victory over Gloucester and the retention of the Rifles Cup. After five losses on the bounce this was as a cathartic an experience as you are likely to get and the relief flowing around the Gate on the final whistle was palpable. We read and hear the thoughts of our listeners and then briefly discuss what this means for our chances against Lyon and Bordeaux as we head for a brief diversion to the group stage of the Champions Cup before diving back into the Premiership again either side of Christmas. It wasn't all bad for the good people of Gloucester though as their women's team (so good they named it twice) despatched the Bears' women with a clinical 12-0 victory at a very cold Shaftesbury Park on Friday night. The Bears had plenty of possession in the second half but just couldn't make it count against a resolute and extremely well drilled opponent. That said there was plenty of 'learnings' to be had as they continue on their campaign to make it into the top four at the end of the season. All this and more with Pete, Miles and Lee and a couple of cheeky craft ales at the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom.

We slip to a fifth defeat in a row at the Stone X but battle hard for a cheeky try bonus point which was the least we deserved. We may have scored a couple of worldies but we also shipped seven and if Owen Farrell had put his boots on the right way round it could have been a lot worse. We review the game with help from a few listeners and the Chair of the Supporters Club and then look forward to the Rifles Cup on Saturday which really, really, really is now a must, must, must win game. We also hear from Ed from the Cherry Jam pod who gives us his take on Gloucester's similarly disappointing start to the seasons but also provides us some insight into their Women's team who take on ours on Friday night. On that note we also review the Bears Women's' visit to Sandy Park this afternoon with help from yet another freelance roving fan reporter. We have tentacles everywhere! So strap in and listen to Lee, Miles and Pete as we climb on board the Bristol Bears rollercoaster yet again for a cheeky beer and a bit of rugby banter!Running order:0:00Intro banter4:00Listener tweets and roving reporter feedback from the Stone X13:25Our in-depth analysis!32:47Chat with Ed Price from the Cherry Jam pod45:54Our thoughts on the line-up for the Rifles Cup56:47Intro to the Bears Womens' Game vs Exeter59:33Second roving reporter feedback from Sandy Park1:01:13Our thoughts on the game1:08:19Final thoughts on Bears abroad!

In this week's episode - our 150th - we chew over the agonising last ditch defeat at the Rec with help from our listeners and reflect on how we really need to start getting on the right side of 'fine margins' otherwise the season is going to slip away. That said, there were plenty of positives to take from the game and we pray that they might be somehow converted into points, cheeky or otherwise, at the Stone X stadium on Saturday. On that note we hear from Jez Denton from Saracens' Fezcast pod and spend a lively few minutes picking our team before broadly predicting a defeat. On a happier note we also review the Bristol Bears' Womens' victory over Sale Sharks Women and note what a fantastically family-esque atmosphere it was. With Miles and Pete and various kids in attendance you really do hear it from the horses' mouths.All this and more with Pete, Miles and Lee recording live from the Bristol Bear Factory Tap Room with a couple of pints of Milk Stout and a little bit of background noise from time to time.0:00 Introduction and chit chat4:30 Listener thoughts on the Bath game9:57 Our thoughts on the Bath game33:28 Jez from Fezcast43:48 Our thoughts on the Saracens game59:00 Review of the Bristol Bears Womens' game1:07:09 Final thoughts